Atomizer

ABSTRACT

A portable, handy and autonomous atomizer operating without a propellent gas and comprising an elongated casing in which are coaxially mounted a removable liquid-containing cartridge, an electronic oscillator, a transducer, energized by the periodic signals issuing from the oscillator, for converting these signals into mechanical vibrations having a frequency at least equal to that of the signals, and an amplifier for amplifying these vibrations at one end thereof. In the casing are also provided a supply voltage source and means for feeding the liquid out of the cartridge to a portion of said one end of the amplifier thereby to form an aerosol jet, said portion projecting out of an opening in the casing wall and the discharge end of the cartridge facing said one end.

United States Patent Corbaz Mar. 14, 1972 4] ATOMIZER 3,375,977 4/1968Butterworth et al. ..239/4 X 3,381,895 5/1968 Thomas 239/102 X [72]Geneva 3,392,916 7/1968 Engstrom et a1. ..239/4 x [73] Assignee:Battelle Memorial Institute, Geneva, Switzerland Primary Examiner-M.Henson Wood, 1r. Assistant Examiner-Edwin D. Grant [22] Flled! Feb. 8,1971 Attorney Kafl F. ROSS 21 A l. N0.: 113 385 l 1 pp [57] ABSTRACT 52]us. C1. ..239/102, 239/272, 239/309, A P handy and auwnomws ammiwOPeming 239/376 without a propellent gas and comprising an elongatedcasing [51] Int. Cl ..B05b 3/14 in which are coaxiany mounted aremovable liquid'comaining 58 Field of Search ..239/102 4 272 309 375camidge, electmic a transducer mind by 239/376 the periodic signalsissuing from the oscillator, for converting these signals intomechanical vibrations having a frequency at [56] References Cited leastequal to that of the signals, and an amplifier for amplifying thesevibrations at one end thereof. In the casing are also UNITED STATESPATENTS provided a supply voltage source and means for feeding theliquid out of the cartridge to a portion of said one end of the2,749,178 6/1956 Larson ..239/272 amplifier thereby to form an aerosol jsaid portion pmjecg i: ing out of an opening in the casing wall and thedischarge end 3 121 534 2/1964 w i lsgl e a 239/102 of the cartridgefacing 581d one end. 3,214,101 10/1965 Perron ..239/ 102 5 Claims, 3Drawing Figures PAIENTEDMAR 14 I912 3,648,929

Ilfl/ fmdr CORZ'JAZ Inventor Attorney ATOMIZER DISCLOSURE This inventionrelates to atomizers of the kind including an electronic oscillator, atransducer which is energized by the periodic signals issuing from theoscillator and which converts these signals into mechanical vibrations,an amplifier for amplifying the amplitude of these vibrations, areservoir of liquid to be atomized, and means for feeding this liquid tothe amplifier whereby the liquid may be atomized by the amplifiedvibrations to form one or more aerosol jets.

Atomizers of this kind have already been proposed, in particular foratomizing highly cohesive liquids, such as for instance mineral oils andvarious paints and coating substances. Use has also been made of suchapparatus for medical applications, in particular for administeringcertain substances orally and nasally or on various parts of the body.

In general, such atomizers consist of static or cumbersome units of arelatively large size that are supplied with electric energy off themains to which they must therefore necessarily be connected during use.

An object of the invention is to produce a portable atomizer which is ofsufficiently small dimensions to form a handy pocket-sized apparatus andwhich is supplied by an autonomous source of electric energy.

According to the invention there is provided an atomizer, comprising acasing in which are disposed a supply voltage source, an electronicoscillator, a transducer which is energized by the periodic signalsissuing from the oscillator and which converts these signals intomechanical vibrations having a frequency corresponding at least to thoseof said signals, an amplifier foramplifying the amplitude of thesevibrations, a reservoir of liquid to be atomized, means for feeding thisliquid to the amplifier thereby to atomize the liquid into at least oneaerosol jet, wherein the reservoir consists of a removable cartridge,and the cartridge, the amplifier and the transducer occupy, within thecasing, a substantially coaxial position, with the discharge opening ofthe cartridge facing the free end of the amplifier and the wall of thecasing being formed with an opening into which projects at least thatpart of the free end of the amplifier which receives the liquid to beatomized whereby the aerosol jet that is produced may mainly be soproduced outside the casing.

In the accompanying diagrammatic drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates, half in axial section, half in elevation, one

embodiment of an atomizer according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section along line II-II of FIG. 1, on a larger scale; and

FIG. 3 is an electronic diagram thereof.

The illustrated atomizer comprises a cylindrical casing 1 having forexample a diameter of a few centimeters so that it may readily be heldby the user. In this casing are disposed a periodic signals electronicgenerator 2, a transducer 3 which is energized by the electric signalsissuing from the generator and which converts these signals intomechanical vibrations having a direction parallel to the longitudinalaxis of the transducer an amplifier 4 for amplifying these vibrations, acartridge 5 filled with liquid to be atomized and which .is removablydisposed in the casing 1 so that it maybe replaced, when required, byanother similar cartridge, a pushbutton 6 by means of which the user canoperate the atomizer in the manner described hereinafter to produce anaerosol jet through an opening 7 in the casing 1 or to stop such anemission.

The electrical diagram for the generator 2 is visible in FIG. 3: thisgenerator 2 comprises a supply block 2A and a highfrequency oscillator23, here an oscillator of ultrasonic frequency.

As will be observed, the supply block comprises a storage cell 8, e.g.,a cadmium-nickel storage cell, to which the oscillator 2B can beconnected via a switch 9 (FIGS. 2 and 3) actuated by the pushbutton 6.The block 2A comprises moreover a circuit for charging the storage cell8, formed by a rectifying unit 10, in a Graetz bridge circuitarrangement, which is connected at its output to the terminals of thestorage cell and whose'input is connected to two pins 11a and llb. Thesetwo pins project from one end of the casing l and can be connected to anAC supply mains via a suitable flex not shown. Between the pin llb andthe corresponding input of the rectifying unit 10 are arranged a fuse l2and a resistor 13, the latter serving to adapt the voltage being appliedacross the terminals 11a and 1 lb.

The oscillator 28 is a Hartley oscillator comprising a transistor Twhose emitter is earthed through an R-C group formed by a resistor R anda capacitor C and whose base circuit includes biasing resistors R, andR,, a capacitor C, and an inductor L formed to one part of the primarywinding of a transformer T,,. The other part of this winding forms aninductor L, connected to the collector of transistor T.

The secondary winding of transformer T forming an inductor L isconnected to the terminals of piezo-electric elements P, and P comprisedby the transducer 3 (FIG. 1), these elements forming a capacitor P Thereaction in the base circuit of transistor T is obtained by means of thecapacitor C,, of the part of the primary winding of transformer Tforming the inductor L and of the mutual inductance M of the transformerwindings.

The capacitor P and the inductors of the transformer T form a circuittuned to the frequency of the periodic signals to be produced by theoscillator.

This oscillator can of course also have a circuit different from thatshown provided it is able to supply periodic signals at a very highfrequency, in particular a supersonic frequency, with a minimumconsumption of electric energy.

These electric signals serve to energize the transducer 3 and thepurpose of the latter is to convert these signals into mechanicalvibrations. The illustrated transducer is designed to vibrate athalf-wave and comprises, firstly, the two piezoelectric elements P, andP formed by a pair of similar annular components, made for instance oflead zirconate titanate, and having an electrode on each plane face,and, secondly, two similar cylindrically-shaped metal components 3A and38 between which the elements P, and P are clamped by a bolt 3C whichextends through the component 3A, through the elements P, and P andwhich is threaded into the component 38.

The two electrodes of elements P, and P,, that are in contactingrelationship are connected to one end of the secondary winding oftransformer T and the other electrodes of elements P, and P areconnected to the other end of this secondary winding.

The unit formed by the components 3A and 3B and by the piezo-electricelements P, and P: has a length equal to M2, A being equal to a multipleof the wavelength of the periodic signal produced by the oscillator.

The amplifier 4 is formed by an appendage of component 38, having alength equal to M2 and havinga diameter which varies exponentially. Ifd, is the diameter of the larger base of the amplifier and d is'thediameter of the smaller base, the coefficient of amplification that canbe obtained will be equal to d,/d

Thus, the mechanical vibrations to which component 38 is subjected areamplifiedin the above ratio at the level of the free end of theamplifier 4. Consequently, the density of ener-' gy at this end isparticularly high and any liquid deposited there will be thoroughlyatomized.

The amplifier 4 is here provided with a beak 4A extending transverselyto itszaxis of symmetry and projecting slightly out of the casing 1,through the opening 7. It is on this beak 4A that is dispensedthe-liquid to be atomized as will be seen later.

The cartridge 5 comprises a tubular container 5A, e.g., of syntheticmaterial, transparent or otherwise, having a mouth which is closed offby-a diaphragm 5B of preferably resilient synthetic materiaL Thiscartridge which is removable, has an external diameter which is slightlyless=than that'of a chamber lA'formed :in 1the -upperpartof the casing1, such chamber nnnn an "a."

being normally closed by a fit-on or snap-on lid 18. A similar lid isprovided at the other end of the casing l to protect pins 11a and 11bwhen not in use.

As shown in FIG. 2, the base 1C of chamber 1A has a profile conjugatewith that of the part of cartridge adjacent its mouth, so as to ensurevery exact positioning of the cartridge in the casing. From the centerof base 1C projects into the chamber 1A the upper end of a tube 14 ofwhich an intermediate part is held in a boss 1D integral with this base.The lower end of the tube is offset radially outwardly and opensopposite a passage 48 formed in the beak 4A substantially in the planeof the opening 7 in casing l.

The tip of the tube portion which extends into the chamber 1A is sharpso that a cartridge 5 upon being fully inserted into this chamber willcause the diaphragm 58 to be punctured through impalement on the sharptip of tube 14. Since the diaphragm is made of resilient material, theedges of the puncture thus formed will come to be applied elasticallyagainst the outer surface of tube 14 and will do so with a forcesufficient to ensure good fluidtightness around the tube.

The internal diameter of tube 14 is preferably sufficiently small forliquid in the cartridge to escape only with difficulty, by gravity orunder the action of a slight parasitic acceleration due for instance toa shake to which the described atomizer could be subjected.

By way of additional precaution, the atomizer is here fitted with aclosure member for this conduit in the form of a needle disposedcoaxially with the passage 48 in beak 4A and with the lower end of tube14, this needle being slidably mounted in a passage 15A formed in a boss1E inside casing l and being rigid with the previously mentionedpushbutton 6.

The pushbutton 6 can be positioned in two extreme, upper and lower,positions in either of which it is held by a blade 6A rigid therewith.This blade is made of resilient material and is formed with two recesses63 and 6C capable of being brought into alternate engagement with aprojection 1F inside the easing by axial sliding displacement of theblade. The spacing of the recesses 68 and 6C corresponds to the distancebetween the two extreme positions into which the pushbutton 6 is to bemoved.

In the upper position for this pushbutton the needle 15 is engaged inthe lower orifice of tube 14 to close the latter and the switch 9,controlled by the blade 6A, is in the open position.

When the pushbutton 6 is moved to its lower position, which is thatshown in FIG. 2, the needle 15 is remote from the tube 14 and the switch9 is closed. The oscillator 2B is thus being supplied with electriccurrent and hence produces a periodic signal of supersonic frequency toenergize the transducer, this signal being converted into amplifiedmechanical vibrations by the amplifier 4, as described.

Further, since the lower orifice of the tube 14 has been cleared, theliquid in the cartridge can be made to flow in this tube and on to thebeak i.e., Since the latter is being subjected to vibrations ofparticularly high frequency and amplitude, the liquid, as it arrives onthis beak, or even within the immediate proximity thereof, is atomized,i.e. fractionated into a cloud of particles of particularly small size,each having sufficient kinematic energy to propel itself and to form, inconjunction with the other particles of the cloud, an aerosol jet. Inthe illustrated atomizer, this jet will have a path of travel transverseto the longitudinal axis of the apparatus and directed slightly upwards.This is due essentially to the shape and direction of the beak 4A and tothe fact that atomization essentially takes place on the upper surfaceof the latter.

The opening 7 is surrounded a conical recess 7A in the side wall of thecasing having a regulating action on the resulting jet. This recess actsas it were as a reflector" for liquid particles having a disordered pathof travel and coming to impinge on its surface.

Moreover, although so far reference has only been made to an amplifierhaving a profile that varies exponentially, clearly the amplifier could,by way of modification, have a different shape, as itis this shape whichdetermines the amplification that is achieved. The transducer could alsobe designed in a manner different from that envisaged previously.

The illustrated atomizer forms an autonomous unit of particularly smallsize capable of being carried by its user, e.g. in a pocket or, in thecase of women, in a bag.

It is thus particularly well-suited for medical purposes, for orally oreven nasally administering all sorts of medicaments, or for periodicallyapplying therapeutic aerosols on wounds of all kinds or on otherexternal parts of the body. In addition, since the liquid is beingatomized without resorting to a propellant," the use of the describedapparatus is practically universal: for instance it is possible to formaerosols with liquids that are chemically incompatible with the gasesused as propellants.

As the described atomizer operates noiselessly it can be used discreetlyin all places and under any circumstances, this being a particularlyimportant advantage as regards its medical applications.

I claim:

1. An atomizer comprising a casing in which are disposed a supplyvoltage source, an electronic oscillator, a transducer which isenergized by the periodic signals issuing from the oscillator and whichconverts these signals into mechanical vibrations having a frequencycorresponding at least to those of said signals, an amplifier foramplifying the amplitude of these vibrations, a reservoir of liquid tobe atomized, means for feeding this liquid to the amplifier thereby toatomize the liquid into at least one aerosol jet, wherein the reservoirconsists of a removable cartridge and the cartridge, the amplifier andthe transducer are substantially coaxially positioned within the casing,with the discharge end of the cartridge facing the free end of theamplifier and the wall of the casing being formed with an openingthrough which projects at least that part of the free end of theamplifier which receives the liquid to be atomized.

2. An atomizer according to claim 1, wherein the discharge end of thecartridge is closed off by a perforatable diaphragm, the casing hasmeans for leading the cartridge to, and maintaining it in, its positionof use, and said liquid-feeding means include a tube having one endopening in the vicinity of said free end of the amplifier and whoseother end is sharp and occupies in the casing a position such when thecartridge is being led to said position of use, the cartridge comes toimpale itself on this other end of the tube thereby perforating thediaphragm and enabling the cartridge to communicate with the tube.

3. An atomizer according to claim 2, wherein a passage extends throughthe free end of the amplifier in coaxial alignment with said one end ofthe tube and with an axially movable needle to the side of the passageopposite the tube and capable of being displaced into two operativepositions, the first being the tube closing position, in which it isengaged in the orifice of said one end of the tube, the other being thetube opening position, remote from the latter.

4. An atomizer according to claim 3, wherein a pushmember, projectingfrom the casing, is kinematically solid with the needle and is capableof being moved axially over a given length corresponding to the distancetravelled by said needle between its two operative positions, andwherein a switch is provided for controlling the supply of theelectronic oscillator by said supply source, said switch being actuatedby said push-member so as to interrupt said supply when the needle ismoved to its tube-closing position and so as to restore this supply whenthe needle is moved to its position remote from said tube.

5. A portable, handy and autonomous atomizer operating without apropellent gas and comprising an elongated casing in which are coaxiallymounted a removable liquid-containing cartridge, an electronicoscillator, a transducer, energized by the periodic signals issuing fromthe oscillator, for converting these signals into mechanical vibrationshaving a frequency at least equal to that of the signals, and anamplifier for amplifying these vibrations at one end thereof the casingbeing also mun-1 provided with a supply voltage source and means forfeeding the liquid out of the cartridge to a portion of said one end ofthe amplifier thereby to form an aerosol jet, said portion projectingout of an opening in the casing wall and the discharge end of thecartridge facing said one end.

Dedication 3,648,929.Andre Corbaz, Geneva, Switzerland. ATOMIZER. Patentdated Mar.

14, 1972. Dedication filed Mar. 26, 1984, by the assignee, BattelleMemorial Institute.

Hereby dedicates to the People of the United States the entire remainingterm of said patent.

[Official Gazette July 3, 1984.]

1. An atomizer comprising a casing in which are disposed a supplyvoltage source, an electronic oscillator, a transducer which isenergized by the periodic signals issuing from the oscillator and whichconverts these signals into mechanical vibrations having a frequencycorresponding at least to those of said signals, an amplifier foramplifying the amplitude of these vibrations, a reservoir of liquid tobe atomized, means for feeding this liquid to the amplifier thereby toatomize the liquid into at least one aerosol jet, wherein the reservoirconsists of a removable cartridge and the cartridge, the amplifIer andthe transducer are substantially coaxially positioned within the casing,with the discharge end of the cartridge facing the free end of theamplifier and the wall of the casing being formed with an openingthrough which projects at least that part of the free end of theamplifier which receives the liquid to be atomized.
 2. An atomizeraccording to claim 1, wherein the discharge end of the cartridge isclosed off by a perforatable diaphragm, the casing has means for leadingthe cartridge to, and maintaining it in, its position of use, and saidliquid-feeding means include a tube having one end opening in thevicinity of said free end of the amplifier and whose other end is sharpand occupies in the casing a position such when the cartridge is beingled to said position of use, the cartridge comes to impale itself onthis other end of the tube thereby perforating the diaphragm andenabling the cartridge to communicate with the tube.
 3. An atomizeraccording to claim 2, wherein a passage extends through the free end ofthe amplifier in coaxial alignment with said one end of the tube andwith an axially movable needle to the side of the passage opposite thetube and capable of being displaced into two operative positions, thefirst being the tube closing position, in which it is engaged in theorifice of said one end of the tube, the other being the tube openingposition, remote from the latter.
 4. An atomizer according to claim 3,wherein a push-member, projecting from the casing, is kinematicallysolid with the needle and is capable of being moved axially over a givenlength corresponding to the distance travelled by said needle betweenits two operative positions, and wherein a switch is provided forcontrolling the supply of the electronic oscillator by said supplysource, said switch being actuated by said push-member so as tointerrupt said supply when the needle is moved to its tube-closingposition and so as to restore this supply when the needle is moved toits position remote from said tube.
 5. A portable, handy and autonomousatomizer operating without a propellent gas and comprising an elongatedcasing in which are coaxially mounted a removable liquid-containingcartridge, an electronic oscillator, a transducer, energized by theperiodic signals issuing from the oscillator, for converting thesesignals into mechanical vibrations having a frequency at least equal tothat of the signals, and an amplifier for amplifying these vibrations atone end thereof, the casing being also provided with a supply voltagesource and means for feeding the liquid out of the cartridge to aportion of said one end of the amplifier thereby to form an aerosol jet,said portion projecting out of an opening in the casing wall and thedischarge end of the cartridge facing said one end.